Month: July 2019

 

The annual Erie County Fair 5K Run, presented by Good Health Saunas, returns to the Fairgrounds on Saturday August 10, 2019 with pistol start at 8:30am. This USA Track & Field (USATF) 3.1 mile route has been certified as the flattest route in Western New York. The start and finish lines are located on the famous “Hamburg Oval” racetrack inside the Gusto Grandstand. The route then proceeds through the picturesque Town and Village of Hamburg featuring a zero percent grade.

 

 

Pre-registration cost is $25 ($30 day of race) and includes preferred, onsite parking, two adult admission passes to the fair and a post-race picnic. The first 500 registrants will receive a commemorative t-shirt.  Registration is now available via www. ECFair.org. Pre-registered participants are encouraged to pick up their race packets on Thursday August 8^th from 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Made In America Store located at the McKinley Mall in Hamburg. Participants can still register the morning of the race with race day registration beginning at 7:00am.

 

 

All ages are welcome to participate in the 5K, however, no pets, skateboards, rollerblades or bicycles are allowed on the course. Water stations will be provided. Awards will be given to the top three males and females in each age division.

 

 

The proceeds from the event will benefit the Erie County Agricultural Society Scholarship Fund. Since 2000 the fund has made available over $250,000 in scholarships to students who are pursuing careers in agriculture as well as those who participate in other aspects of the Fair. Past recipients include marching band members, media/marketing interns, concessionaires, volunteers, and exhibitors.

 

 

The Erie County Fair 5K Run is presented by Good Health Saunas with additional support from Tops Friendly Markets, Bryant & Stratton College, Crunch Fitness, Made In America Stores, and Upstate Farms. The event is timed by Race Management Solutions. For more information on the Erie County Fair 5K, please call (716) 649-3900 or email hollys@ecfair.org.

 

 

Note to Hamburg residents: The running of Erie County Fair 5K will facilitate the short closing of Clark Street between McKinley and South Park Avenue on Saturday, August 10^th between 8:30am and 8:50am.

 

There are so many ways to save when attending the 180^th Erie County Fair. The Erie County Agricultural Society, sponsors of the fair, encourages everyone to take advantage of the deals and discounts from opening day Wednesday, August 7^th until the gates close on Sunday, August 18^th.

 

 

Regular daily gate admission is $12 for adult and $9 for seniors (60+). Gate hours are 12pm-10pm on Opening Day Wednesday August 7^th and 9am-10pm August 8^th – 18^th.

 

 

Here are the 10 BEST ways to save money at the Erie County Fair:

 

 

PLAN AHEAD AND SAVE AT THE GATE – The Erie County Fair has teamed up with Tops Friendly Markets to offer advance sale gate admission vouchers. The cost is $7 per adult, $5 per senior (60+). Purchase vouchers at Tops Friendly Markets now through August 6^th and redeem them at any Fair gate. Ask your cashier at checkout!

 

 

IT’S GREAT TO BE A KID! – Children 12 and under are ALWAYS free at the Fair!

 

 

FILL THE FOOD BANK & GET IN FREE OPENING DAY! – For the seventh year in a row, the Erie County Fair will partner with the FeedMore WNY (Food Bank of WNY) to help fill their warehouse with canned goods. Fairgoers will gain FREE admission to the Fair on Opening Day, Wednesday, August 7^th with the donation of TWO canned food items. Donations will be accepted at all Fair gates beginning at Noon.

 

 

AS SEEN ON TV – Our television partners give you a chance to save big during three special days at the Fair! While you’re at the Fair, stop by their displays to meet your favorite personalities and support partner charities.

WGRZ Channel 2 Day, Wednesday, August 7^th. $5 admission (Gates open at noon)

WKBW Channel 7 Day. Tuesday, August 13^th. $5 admission all day

WIVB Channel 4 Day, Thursday, August 15^th. $5 admission all day

 

 

YOU’VE GOT A TICKET TO RIDE – Take advantage of one price ride days and ride all day for one low price. Purchase a $25 weekday ride voucher (Monday-Friday) in advance at Tops Friendly Markets through August 6^th for a $5 savings. Ask your cashier at checkout. $40 weekend wristbands are available at the Fair only. You can also purchase a Strates Shows Fun Card with 70 ride credits for $23. This offer is available at ECFair.org until August 6^th.

 

 

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SERVE – All Firefighters and Auxiliary Members receive FREE admission with proper ID on Firefighters Day, Friday, August 9^th. Veterans, Active Military and Auxiliary Members receive FREE admission on August 11^th with proper ID.

 

 

GETTING TO THE FAIR EARLY ON WEEKDAYS PAYS OFF – Arrive before 11am on August 8^th & 9^th or between August 12^th, 14^th and 16^th and get into the Fair for only $7

 

 

STUDENTS GET SCHOOLED ON SAVINGS – Teens and young adults can meet their friends at the Fair. Students with proper school ID pay just $7 after 5pm every day.

 

 

COME HUNGRY – During the Taste of the Fair on Monday, August 12^th, over 100 vendors will be offering food items for just $2.00. This is the perfect opportunity to try that food you always wanted to. Other food discounts during the Fair include our $6 commemorative, souvenir mug featuring $3.00 refills all day at participating vendors. Buck-A-Roos, a concession stand near Kiddieland, features 10 items for $2 each. Unlike other major WNY attractions, concerts or sporting events, Fairgoers can bring in coolers with food and drink and, set up for the entire day at one of our many picnic areas (no alcohol or glass bottles please). Visit ECFair.org starting August 1^st to download 30 food coupons for Fair vendors as an extra bonus.

 

 

LISTEN TO THE FREE MUSIC – There is free, live entertainment all over the Fairgrounds! Join us for our THREE free Gusto Grandstand Concerts on Thursday, August 8^th featuring Foghat, Friday, August 9^th with The Petty Breakers and Thursday, August 15^th, with Diamond Rio. In addition, the Gusto Grandstand will feature FREE admission for the North American Drone Masters on Sunday, August 11^th and FreeStyleMX.com on Tuesday, August 13^th. All of these events are included with your gate admission.

 

Flaming Hot Cheetos Fries, Hot Candy Wings, Pierogi Poutine and Luv Puffs are among the new foods on this year’s lineup during the Best 12 Days of Summer.

 

 

On Wednesday, August 7^th, the gates of the 180^th Erie County Fair will officially open to welcome over 1 million hungry fairgoers. During the 12-days of the Fair, the Fairgrounds plays host to over 500 food items available at 125 food stands. This year’s bill-of-fare ranges from time-honored regional favorites to limited edition, deep fried novelty treats only found at the Fair.

 

 

New items have been added to the menu and are part of the Fair’s New Food Showdown. Fair food fans will again be able to vote for the “Best New Food at the Fair” in the Erie County Fair App. Voting will begin opening day August 7^th and continue thru August 13^th. The winner will be announced on Thursday, August 15^th. Past champions have included Mineo & Sapio’s Chorizo Ciabatta Sandwich (2015), Mark’s Pizza and Subs’ Deep-Fried Bologna Bites (2016), Babcia’s Pierogi’s Crab Stuffed Mushroom Pierogi (2017) and Apple Quesadilla by Jack’s Delicious Taco in a Bag (2018).

 

 

This year’s new fair foods will not disappoint Fairgoers with a sense of culinary adventure. Items in the New Food Showdown include:

 

• Bacon Cheeseburger Poutine by Poutine Gourmet
  • Fresh French fries covered in a brown Canadian gravy and melty cheese curds, topped with bacon and ground beef.
• Brisket Nachos by Dre’s Place BBQ
  • Brisket chopped and served on nacho chips, with cheese and our signature sauce drizzled on top (spice it up with jalapeno peppers).
• Buffalo Chicken Banana Peppers by Salvatore’s Pizza
  • A Buffalo match made in heaven! Banana peppers stuffed with buffalo style chicken filling.
• Chicken Feta Fries by Venus
  • Marinated chicken breast on top of a bed of steak cut fries, topped with feta cheese, garlic sauce, and Greek dressing.
• Hot Candy Wings by BW BBQ
  • A new twist on an old favorite! Chicken wings tossed in a hot candy sauce.
• Mac & Cheese Sundae by Mineo & Sapio
  • Elbow macaroni smothered in our four-cheese sauce with red and green peppers, caramelized onions, sausage “sprinkles,” topped with traditional red sauce and a meatball “cherry” on top.
• Pierogi Poutine with Shredded Pot Roast by Babcia’s Pierogi
  • Babcia’s potato cheddar pierogi topped with cheese curds, shredded Guinness pot roast and savory gravy to make the ultimate poutine.
• Potato Butts by Renaissance Lodge Curly Q’s
  • Deep fried potato slices garnished with your choice of cheese and bacon, sour cream and chive, or hot sauce.
• Soba Noodle Stir-Fry with Sweet Teriyaki Chicken by Wok on the Wild Side Foods
  • Wok-fried soba noodles with market fresh vegetables glazed in our signature sweet teriyaki sauce and served with sweet teriyaki chicken.
• The Flaming Hot Cheetos Fries by Big Kahuna’s
  • Hot, freshly made fries drizzled with cheddar cheese sauce and finished with Flaming Hot Cheetos to bring some heat to this original treat.

 

New for 2019, “Sweets & Treats” has been separated into its own “New Foods Showdown” category. Menu items include:

 

• Caramel Crack Fries by Big Kahuna’s
  • Crispy Fries covered with salted caramel and rolled cinnamon sugar, with whipped cream and fruity pebbles on top to complete this treat.
• Luv Puffs by Tropical Luv
  • A popular festival and street market dessert originating in Amsterdam. This treat resembles mini, fluffy pancakes. The batter is made fresh each day! Pancakes served with gourmet toppings like Nutella Crunch.
• Loganberry Funnel Cake Corn Dog by Chester’s Gators & Taters
  • A hot dog dipped in funnel cake batter, deep fried to perfection, drizzled with loganberry syrup and a dash of powdered sugar. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert all in one!

• Not Your Mother’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake by Cheesecake Guy
  • Two slices of peanut butter cheesecake sandwiched around a layer of loganberry jelly with a drizzle of peanut butter, more delicious jelly and a side of potato chips.
• Strawberry Mezza Luna by Salvatore’s Pizza
  • A classic calzone crust filled with strawberries and cream cheese… a sweet treat sure to please!
• Waffle Bombs by Waffle Bomb
  • Chocolate covered jumbo strawberries on a stick, dipped in Belgian waffle batter, deep fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

 

Along with the “fairgoer’s vote” for the best, new food of the Fair, a panel of guest judges will sample and vote on their favorites during our New Food Showdown Judging Show that will take place on Thursday, August 8^th at 11a. The panel will consist of culinary professionals from the Niagara Falls Niagara Culinary Institute, SUNY Erie’s Culinary Arts Program, Delaware North and Artisan Kitchens & Bath along with media judges including Business First’s Jim Fink, Spectrum News’s Alex Haight, WGRZ’s Kate Welshofer, WBEN’s Brian Mazurowski, WKBW’s Jeff Slawson, WIVB’s Dave Greber and 97 Rock’s Steve Tripi.

 

2019 marks the 4^th year of the Erie County Fair’s participation in the Independent Health Foundation’s Healthy Options program. Participating restaurants have signed on to offer a healthy menu item that has been approved by the Independent Health Foundation. We are proud to announce that each year the list of Healthy Options increases with menu items approved by dieticians. Highlights include:

 

 

• Avocado Double Chocolate Cookies by All About the Sugar
• Fresh Tomato, Pepper and Onion Salad by Chiavettas
• White Pizza on Wheat Dough by Pizza Amore
• Caprese Salad & a Spinach & Tomato Pie by Salvatore’s Pizza

 

 

Growing each year in popularity, the “Taste of the Fair” Food Festival will return on Monday, August 12^th.  Fair vendors will feature over 125 “taste” sized portions for only $2. A complete listing of items and locations will be available on the Fair’s website, mobile app and on menus located at Fair gates the day of the event.

 

 

Adult fairgoers will be able to wash down all their Fair food with one of three, limited edition beverages. Beers include a Light German Lager, voted the “Best of Show” winner during the Erie County Fair’s 2019 Home Brew Competition and the Erie County Fair American Pale Ale based on the 2015 championship recipe. In addition, the Inaugural Erie County Fair Cider with a recipe provided by home cider maker Jeffrey Clift of Buffalo, produced by Black Bird Cider Works will be available at the Fair’s beer gardens.

 

 

The Erie County Fair will partner with the FeedMore WNY (Food Bank & Meals On Wheels) to help fill their warehouse with canned goods. Fairgoers will gain FREE admission to the Fair on Opening Day, Wednesday, August 7^th with the donation of TWO canned food items. Donations will be accepted at all Fair gates beginning at Noon.

 

 

Following the conclusion of the 180^th Fair, on Wednesday, September 18^th, the Fair will celebrate “National Birth of the Burger Day.” The day has been set aside to commemorate the invention of the hamburger sandwich that took place during the 1885 Erie County Fair by Frank and Charles Menches of Canton, Ohio.  During the Fair, Weidner’s BBQ located on the Avenue of Flags will feature their culinary tribute to the birth of America’s favorite sandwich with the “1885 Burger.”

 

 

For generations, the annual arrival of the James E. Strates Shows train has been a highly anticipated occasion for fairgoers and enthusiasts of Americana. The movement of the colorful freight train filled with wagons and amusement rides into the Village of Hamburg is a signal that opening day of the Erie County Fair is just a week away.

 

On Wednesday, July 31^st the Fair Train will arrive at the historic Erie Railroad Depot in Hamburg as the Strates Shows begins its 95^th season with the Erie County Fair. The depot is located at the corner of Union and Scott Streets (4 Scott Street). The train will arrive between 11:30a and Noon.

 

The train will begin the final leg of its journey to Hamburg using Buffalo Southern Railroad track. As the train arrives at the depot it will be greeted by the Erie County Fair Marching Band, Fair Bear, and Erie County Fair officials.

 

Prior to the train’s arrival, the public may receive a free, limited edition commemorative “Train Day 2019” button and a bag of Poppin’ Bob kettle corn (while supplies last).

 

The exclusive relationship between the Erie County Fair and the Strates Shows is considered a historical milestone in the modern amusement industry as it is considered the longest continuous run of any carnival midway in the United States.

 

To commemorate “Train Day 2019,” the United States Postal Service will feature a specially designed cancellation mark and two stamps that were recently issued on the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. The Post Office will be on site at the Hamburg Depot from 10a-2p selling these stamps as well as cancelling mail using an Erie County Fair Train Depot postmark (while supplies last).

 

 

 

The 2019 Erie County Fair Sire Stakes Races will take place at the historic “Hamburg Oval” on Wednesday, July 10^th at 1pm. This event is free and open to the public. The New York Sire Stakes promote the breeding, buying, and racing of Standardbred horses in New York State, and are administered by the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.

 

 

The Erie County Fair Race is part of a series of non-pari-mutuel betting harness races hosted at county fairs across New York State. The races are open to eligible two and three-year-old New York Standardbreds and are separated into nine divisions based on age and gait. The start of the race is considered the first official event of the 180^th Erie County Fair that opens its gates on Wednesday, August 7^th.

 

 

Harness racing at the Erie County Fair is a tradition that dates back to the 1850s when the Fair was held at various racetracks across the County. Racing at the “Hamburg Oval” pre-dates the Erie County Fair’s move to its current location at the Hamburg Fairgrounds as the site was originally home to the Hamburg Driving Grounds.

 

 

Are you or someone you know deserving of the title of the greatest “Fair Fan” in Western New York? The Erie County Fair is now accepting nominations for someone to be named the 2019 Ultimate Fairgoer.

 

Established in 2005, the Erie County Fair’s Ultimate Fairgoer honor is bestowed each year on an individual who lives and breathes the Erie County Fair all year long. The chosen candidate is not only passionate and enthusiastic about the Fair but actively promotes and shares their love with family, friends and the community.

 

Nomination forms are currently available on the Fair’s website, https://bit.ly/2XiFzjv and must be submitted by Thursday, July 25^th. Nominations must include a short essay as to why the candidate, above everyone else, deserves the title of “Ultimate Fairgoer.” Past winning nominations have included photos, references, news clippings or collateral materials that provide further background. Management and staff of the Erie County Agricultural Society and/or the Erie County Fair are not eligible.

 

The 2019 Erie County Fair Ultimate Fairgoer will be officially announced during a ceremony outside of the Fair’s McKinley Gate on Opening Day, Wednesday August 7^th at 11:30am.

 

Past honorees are:

2005 – Barbara Brader, Hamburg

2006 – Sue Montgomery, Hamburg

2007 – Terry Nowatka, Colden

2008 – Father Ray Donohue, Fredonia

2009 – Marion Wittmeyer, Lawtons

2010 – Paulette Smith, Hinsdale

2011 – Helene Edie, Hamburg

2012 – Tim Beasor, Pompano Beach

2013 – Marty Brownsey, West Seneca

2014 – Sandy Kristka, Hamburg

2015 – Mary Ellen Bossert, Hamburg

2016 – Jimmy Barrett, Bel Air, MD

2017 – Mary Roberts, Hamburg

2018 – Judy Wilder, Hamburg

 

 

Starting Monday, July 1^st fairgoers will be able to save money preparing for the BEST 12 Days of Summer! Tops Friendly Markets has teamed up with the Erie County Fair to offer discounts off gate admission.  Savings are over 40% off the cost at the gate (2019 full price admission is $12 adults, $9 seniors). The discount sale cost is $7 per adult and $5 per senior (60+). You can purchase vouchers from checkout cashiers at any participating Tops Friendly Markets locations now through Tuesday August 6th and redeem them at any Fair gate upon arrival (valid everyday).

 

Fairgoers can also save on all the classic carnival fun on the famous James E. Strates Shows Midway during Weekday One Price Ride Days on Aug 7^th-9^th and August 12^th-16^th.  Vouchers can be purchased in advance for just $25 (save $5) until August 6^th. New this year is the return of the famous Sky Wheel (double Ferris Wheel) to celebrate the 95^th anniversary of the Strates Shows at the Erie County Fair. See a complete list of rides and height requirements at www.ECFair.org.

 

About the Erie County Fair

 

The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, the Society is the oldest civic organization in western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. The Fair strives to fulfill appropriate aspects of the agricultural, educational, entertainment and recreational needs of western New York.  The 180^th Erie County Fair will be held August 7^th – 18^th, 2019. (www.ECFair.org).